FRESNO FREE COLLEGE FOUNDATION 2010-2011 Annual Report fresnofreecollegefoundation.org President's Message It’s been a tumultuous year, both the spike of birth defects in Kettleman geopolitically and for alternative media. City that residents believe has been The world has been in an uproar with caused by toxic chemicals, and the efforts people rising up to overthrow oppressive of some local officials to push our growing governments in Africa and the Middle homeless population off the streets and East, and oppressive economic systems into the shadows. everywhere. As the temperature of the Mitch Jeserich from KPFA’s “Letters planet rises both literally and figuratively, and Politics” spoke at our 2010 banquet public places throughout the world are and we hosted events with “Democracy being occupied by people demanding Now’s” Amy Goodman as well as “Against more equitable and responsive the Grain’s” Sasha Lilley. As the Middle governments and an end to corporate East heated up, we heard first hand control of the earth’s resources and the reports from “Democracy Now” politicians that are supposed to be correspondents, guests on “Africa Today” preserving them. and “Voices of the Middle East and North Against this background, alternative Africa,” and through the daily broadcasts media has become more important than from Al Jazeera English aired exclusively ever, at the same time as the funds to keep on the Pacific network. media outlets such as Pacifica and KFCF We’ve also added new local programs, alive have become increasingly scarce. In including “Keeping it Real with Dr. Jean part because of that scarcity, KPFA cut Kennedy,” and “Valley Views on the Law” staff and made significant programming with San Joaquin College of Law changes that surprised and dismayed Professors Jeffrey G. Purvis and Justin many of our listeners, including the loss of Atkinson. And we’ve launched our new the popular Morning Show. websites, kfcf.org and But despite those changes, the Pacifica fresnofreecollegefoundation.org, that network, including KFCF, has remained a make it easier than ever to stay on top of beacon of light, reporting on the struggles what’s new with both KFCF and the going on internationally, nationally and Fresno Free College Foundation. locally, from the ground and without a So as 2011 comes to an end, we are corporate filter. grateful to you, the members of the Fresno Our News Stringer Project remains Free College Foundation, for continuing to strong, and more and more stories from support this important work. the Central Valley have been aired on the Pacific Evening News, including stories on the efforts to build a nuclear power plant Sue Kern in Fresno despite the Fukushima disaster, President, Fresno Free College Foundation From The Desk of the Executive Director It’s been a good year for The Fresno Free College Foundation and KFCF. Thanks to our generous supporters we have stayed on an even keel since the economic meltdown of the economy a few years ago. We know times are tough in the valley and we appreciate that you value and support us. We’ve had some great speakers, like Mitch Jeserich, and Sasha Lilley; we’ve been working on refurbishing and having backup equipment for KFCF’s Studio to Transmitter microwave link, a backup stereo generator, and related equipment, so that we are in better shape keeping KFCF on the air. Hopefully, we can look at doing some fundraising for a backup transmitter in the next year or so. Thanks for all your support and wishing everyone a good 2012! Rychard Withers Executive Director, Fresno Free College Foundation FRESNO FREE COLLEGE FOUNDATION 2010-2011 Annual Report Vol 43, No. 1 This report is published annually by The Fresno Free College Foundation, PO Box 4364 Fresno, CA 9378 Cover Photograph courtesy of Rebecca Caraveo www.RebeccaCaraveo.com Layout and Design by Frank Delgado, Creative Director 88.1-KFCF The KFCF News Stringer Fund: Bringing local stories to the statewide airwaves Over the past year the News The News Stringer Fund also allowed Stringer Fund produced over 40 news reporters to follow important regional features covering issues or regional and issues such as air quality, climate change, statewide importance. high speed rail, sustainable farming and Reporters Mike Rhodes and Vic nutrition, and the ongoing situation Bedoian filed stories for the Pacifica involving the human health impacts of Evening News, which reaches much of toxic pollution in Kettleman City. the state's geographical area and Locally, the NSF funded reports on the population centers over radio stations plight of the homeless and of KPFA in Northern California, KFCF in undocumented immigrants, the Central California and KPFK in Southern continuing struggle over medical California. marijuana clinics, and the practices of the Some of these news reports also Fresno Police Department. appeared on the nationally syndicated The News Stringer Fund was created in Free Speech Radio News. 2009 and is made possible by special Several reports dealt with the conflicts contributions from Fresno Free College over the state's water and natural Foundation members and KFCF listeners resources, such as the proposed gravel in order to advance critical reporting on mine on Jesse Morrow Mountain, events, public policies and the quality of environmental restoration of the San life in the region and the state. Joaquin River and agricultural water politics, including an in-depth series on the fate of the San Francisco Bay Delta. Water was also the central issue in feature stories about the lack of safe drinking water in rural Valley communities that spurred an investigation KNews FStringerC FundF by the United Nations Council on Human Rights. A complete copy of the Fresno Free College Foundation Accountant’s Report is available at www.fresnofreecollegefoundation.org or by calling the FFCF office during business hours (559) 233-2221 Sharmayne Sikora____________________________ Certified Public Accountant 3100 Willow, Suite 110 Clovis, CA 93612 Phone: 559/291-2700 Fax : 559/291-3455 ACCOUNTANT’S COMPILATION REPORT To the Board of Directors Fresno Free College Foundation Fresno, California I have compiled the accompanying statement of assets, liabilities, and net assets—cash basis of Fresno Free College Foundation as of August 31, 2011, and the related statement of revenues, expenses, and other changes in net assets—cash basis, statement of changes in net assets by fund—cash basis and the additional information of detail statements of revenues, expenses and other changes in net assets—cash basis for each fund for the year then ended. I have not audited or reviewed the accompanying financial statements and, accordingly, do not express an opinion or provide any assurance about whether the financial statements are in accordance with the cash basis of accounting. Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in accordance with the cash basis of accounting and for designing, implementing, and maintaining internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements. My responsibility is to conduct the compilation in accordance with Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The objective of a compilation is to assist management in presenting financial information in the form of financial statements without undertaking to obtain or provide any assurance that there are no material modifications that should be made to the financial statements. Management has elected to omit substantially all of the disclosures ordinarily included in financial statements prepared in accordance with the cash basis of accounting. If the omitted disclosures were included in the financial statements, they might influence the user’s conclusions about the Company’s assets, liabilities, equity, revenues, and expenses. Accordingly, the financial statements are not designed for those who are not informed about such matters. Sharmayne Sikora Certified Public Accountant November 29, 2011 .